Whether it be a FromSoftware dark fantasy masterpiece like Elden Ring, to something with a more novel setting and flavor like Lies of P, to games that move away from the traditional melee focus like Remnant 2, you’re absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to great soulslikes these days. However, it’s rare to see one that takes the core principles of soulslike combat and chucks it into a Vampire Survivors-style horde slayer. Well, that’s exactly what Ember and Blade, a newly revealed action RPG, aims to do.
Like so many of the best soulslike games, Ember and Blade is a dark fantasy affair. You play as a demon hunter called Fenrix, who has cut a pretty sweet deal with an angel to be granted immortality. There are a couple of catches though. The first is that his immortality is only temporary. The second is that he must venture to a mysterious realm where a powerful archdemon known as Asmodeus is being kept prisoner. However, after hundreds of years of being sealed away, Asmodeus threatens to break free and resurrect, which as you can imagine will end in catastrophe. It’s your job to help an “enigmatic guardian sorceress” known as Ariella to keep the archdemon locked up.
However, this world is infested with demonic monsters, and they’re not going to make life easy for you. When I say infested, I mean it. With dozens of units on screen at any one time, the slow, precise, and methodical combat of most soulslikes takes a back seat when exploring this world. Instead, Ember and Blade cranks things up to Vampire Survivors levels of chaos, letting you slash your way through the hordes. You can also perform powerful area of effect abilities, and as you progress, you’ll receive blessings from the angels that can be synergized to create all manner of character builds.
However, when you run into the game’s major bosses, things switch back to a more traditional soulslike feel. There’s a suitably sized red health bar to chip away at. A unique sequence of attacks will be thrown your way. Dodging and striking at the right moment suddenly becomes a much more important strategy than blasting through dozens of enemies at a time.
It seems like a winning combination to me, and when you marry that up with Ember and Blade’s stunning art style, it’s looking like one to watch.
Ember and Blade is set to release in 2026, but developer Line Games says that a demo should be hitting Steam in the second half of 2025. If you want to add it your wishlist, you can do so here.
Until we see and hear more about Ember and Blade, check out some of the best RPGs and best action games on PC right now.
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